Storage drawer



Jan. 3, 1961 H. STILLMAN 2,967,078

STORAGE DRAWER Filed Jan. 24. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR. 2M J United States Patent STORAGE DRAWER Harold Stillman, Des Plaines, Ill. (P.O. Box 321, Palatine, Ill.)

Filed Jan. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 710,953 4 Claims. (Cl. 312-111) This invention relates to improvements in a storage cabinet and has particular application to a cabinet having a plurality of complete drawer units assembled in tiers or stacks or in tiers of stacks.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a unit in which the drawer may be formed of a molded plastic material, preferably of a durable thermoset type, and which can be formed in a single piece so as to produce a one-piece, integral drawer unit without the necessity of reinforcing the same with metal, wood or other material.

Other objects are to provide a frame made of parts which can be made from merchantable bars or metal strips and which does not require the use of castings, stampings or special sizes which would add to the cost of the frame, or which might introduce practical manufacturing difliculties and, in general, to provide a frame and drawer combination which is of simple design and inexpensive to manufacture, yet'eflicient and convenient to use while being durable and of a construction rugged enough to withstand the wear and tear to which an article of this character is subjected in actual use.

In the drawings accompanying this application, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of a storage cabinet or facility made in accordance with the invention. In these drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of a nine unit cabinet having the units arranged in three tiers of stacks, each stack having three units;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the drawer frame;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a key used for securing together the abutting front elements of the frame of units stacked upon each other;

Figure 5A is a fragmentary elevation of the detail showing how to use the key shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5B is a plan view of the key shown in Figure 5A;

Figure 6 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a convenient type of removable and re-useable rivet for securing together the metal frame of one unit to the metal frame of a similar unit above or below or along side; and

Figure 6A is a sectional view through a joint or connection made by the use of the rivet shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the frame of the unit in the present instance is made of a comparatively few simple elements. There is a front element, designated as a whole as 10, and a rear element designated as a whole as 11. Each of these elements of the frame is, in the present instance, made in the form of a substantially rectangular open hoop by forming a flat strip or bar into the shape illustrated so that the outer surfaces of the hoop preferably are formed by the fiat surfaces of the formed-up strip, and the boundaries of the outer surfaces of the hoops 10 and 11 preferably coincide with the boundaries or over-all dimensions 1 2,967,078 Patented Jan. 3, 1961 'ice of the unit, both as to vertical and horizontal dimensions. The ends of the strips may be welded together after the hoops are formed.

It will be seen that the front hoop 10 has a top bar, indicated at 12, a bottom bar 13 and side bars 14 and 15. Similarly, the rear hoop 11 has a top bar 16, a bottom bar 17 and end bars 18 and 19. These front and rear hoops 111 and 11 are connected together by means of tie bars 20 and 21. The ends of the tie bar 20 are preferably connected by riveting or welding them to the inside faces of the lower parts of the end bars 14 and 18, and the tie bar 21 at the opposite side of the frame is similarly connected to the end bars 15 and 19. As shown, it is convenient to make the bars 20 and 21 from a single piece of flat metal strip, the intermediate part 22 of which reinforces the rear hoop 11.

In a similar manner, the upper ends of the end bars 14 and 18 are connected together by side bars 23 and the upper ends of the end bars 15 and 19 are connected together by a side bar 24 and the rear ends of these end bars 23 and 24 are also themselves connected together by a rear bar 25, similar to the back bar 22 previously described. However, in the case of the side bars 23 and 24, it will be observed that for a substantial part of their length they are formed or bent to provide jogs or off-sets, for example, as shown at 26 and 27, so as to bring the upper edges of said off-set portions a short distance inwardly so that they are spaced apart at a distance which is less than that which is defined by the distance between the front extremities of the side bars 23 and 24.

The frame construction which has been described, is particularly well adapted for units adapted for assembly in stacks or in tiers, without requiring the use of any additional frame elements other than simple connecting devices.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be observed that the rear frame element or hoop 11 may be connected to a similar rear frame element of the unit immediately below by means of a pair of conventional rivets designated as a whole as 28, which are inserted through portions of said hoop elements which are in contact with each other at the points where the rivets 28 are inserted. Similarly, the end bars of the rear hoop, for example 18 as shown in Figure 4, are connected to the adjacent end bar 19' of the adjoining unit by a pair of rivets 29'. The top bar 16 of the hoop element 11 may be similarly connected to the lower bar 17 of a similar, superposed drawer unit by means of similar rivets inserted through the apertures 30-. The front hoop element 12 is similarly connected to upper and lower units and to adjacent units on each side by means of similar rivets inserted through a pair of apertures 31 in the bottom bar 13, apertures 32 in the top bar 12, apertures 33 in the end bar 14 and apertures 34 in the other end bar 15 of the front hoop element 10.

The rivets employed in making the above connections between adjacent frames in the stack or tier may be of any convenient, conventional type. However, I prefer to use a type of rivet which can be readily inserted and locked in place without the use of any special tools and furthermore, which may be removed and re-used without damage to the rivet or to the parts connected by the rivet, and also, without the use of special tools.

A form of rivet which can be efiiciently employed is shown in Figures 6 and 6A. This type of rivet is constructed with a head 35 substantially larger than the shank portion 36 of the rivet which is a fairly good fit in the holes in the frame members 16 and 17 which the rivet is intended to connect together. It will be seen that through the center of the head35 of the rivet and the shank 36, there is provided an axial hole extending from top to bottom of the rivet. This opening is of the right size to receive snugly a locking rod or pin 37. The lower end of the shank portion 36 is divided into four prongs 38 separated by four tapering radial longitudinal slits 39 arranged in a cruciform manner. In order to insert the rivet through the members 16 and 17, the looking rod 37 is retracted to the position shown in Figure 6 and this permits the ends of the prongs 38 to be compressed together at the point Where the rivet is inserted through the apertures inthe bars 16 and 17.

The dimensions of the intermediate portion of the shank 3-6 of the rivet are such that when the rod is inserted by driving it down through the axial hole in the rivet, the slitted or bifurcated lower end of the rivet is forced outwardly, forcing the upper ends of the prongs 38 into snug contact with the wall of the hole of the bar 16 and also forcing the protruding ends 4% of the prongs 38 outwardly below the bottom of the hole in the bar 16. To make this action effective, it is advisable to make the lower ends 4% of the prongs 38 of such spacing and thickness that when the rod 37 is driven down through the bottom of the rivet, the bottom end of the rivet will have a diameter substantially greater than the upper part of the shank and hence, the rivet will constitute an eflicient lock between the bar elements 16 and 17. These rivets can be made of a synthetic plastic material such as nylon or the like.

The foregoing frame construction is particularly convenient and eflicient where the drawers can be made of molded material on a mass-production basis. In Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a molded drawer element. This drawer has a back wall or rear panel 4-1, a front 42, bottom sheet or panel 43 and side panels 44 and 45. The bottom sheet 43 is preferably reinforced by spaced ribs 46 and 47.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be observed that at the top of the drawer, the side panels 44 and 45 are provided with small, outwardly extending flanges 48 and 49, which extend over and slide upon the off-set portions of the upper side bars 23 and 24, which are spaced apart a proper distance to form tracks or rails to permit the drawer to slide freely between and on them. The flanges 48 and 49 are made with integral, upstanding parts and 51 so that the side and rear edges are carried around along the back panel. In this way, the upper edges of the side panels and the back panel of the drawer are effectively reinforced.

In order to prevent the front end of the drawer from tipping down when the drawer is opened, it is advisable to hold down the rear end of the drawer by elements carried by the side panels and extending under the offset portions of the track bars 23 and 24. in the present instance, there are shown small rollers 52 and 53, which are journalled on suitable pivot pins 55 and 56 carried by the side panels of the drawer.

In Figures 5, 5A and 5B of the drawings, there is shown a stop element 57 which prevents the drawer from being pulled out in normal operation, and at the same time, may serve as an additional means for securing together the bottom bar of the front frame to the top bar of the frame of a lower unit in the stack. Said combination key and stop element 57 comprises a section cut from a piece of flat metal. It is generally rectangular in shape, but has notches 58 and 59 formed in the sides thereof so as to form a neck 6% which separates and connects the head 61 of the element with the foot 62. As shown best in Figure 2, the top and bottom bars 12 and 13 at the front of the frame are made with oblique slots 63 of the proper size to admit the lower end or foot 62 of the locking element 57. As will be seen in the drawings, the sides of the notches 58 and 59 of the locking element are beveled. These notches are also made of such dimensions relative to the combined thickness of the bars 12 and 13 (see also Figure 3) that when the locking element 57 is turned to a position parallel with the front of the cabinet, the bars 12 and 13 at this point will be crowded together and at the same time, the stop element 57 will be jammed and locked in this position.

The upper end 61 of the stop element 57 (see Figure 3) is slightly spaced from the lower wall 43 of the drawer so that it will not interfere with the sliding movement of the drawer. However, it is high enough so that when the drawer is fully withdrawn, the upper end 61 of the stop element 57 will be engaged by the front end of a rubber bumper pad or cushion element 64 cemented to the underside of the bottom sheet 43 of the drawer between the reinforcing ribs 46 and 47.

Preferably, the front panel 42 is made somewhat thicker than the other panels of the drawer and can be made with extensions or flanges at its outer edges so as to form a rectangular front serving to conceal the metal elements of the internal frame structure when the drawer is fully closed, except for a suitable clearance space of about inch between adjacent panels.

As compared with former drawers or cabinets, it will be seen that the invention has a number of advantages separately or in combination. For example, when a plurality of the drawer units are arranged to form a multidrawer cabinet as shown in Figure 1, it is not necessary to provide any internal panels or partitions. The only thing needed is to apply at the outside of the cabinet suitable side panels 65 and 66, top panels 67 and pedestal section 68. Also, in the case of cabinets which are not arranged back to back, it may be advisable to use a rear panel for enclosing the back of the cabinet. Also, it is obvious that the cabinet may consist of a single drawer, if desired. Since the individual drawer units are all constructed alike, they are inter-changeable and at any time can be used as single drawers or assembled into tiers or stacks or stacks of tiers in any number or arrangements, and without loss of space.

Various of the features of the invention believed to be new are set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A storage facility comprising a unit capable of being assembled with units in stacks or rows and having a sliding drawer with front, rear and bottom walls and two side walls, each side wall having near its upper edge an outwardly projecting, downwardly facing, horizontal integral flange extending along the side wall, a stationary metal frame element at the rear of the drawer, a stationary metal frame element at the front of the drawer and having top, bottom and side members defining a rectangular opening for permitting sliding movement of the drawer within the frame, a pair of side bars connecting upper ends of the sides of said frames and extending from front to rear between said frames, intermediate parts of said bars being spaced apart to clear the drawer sides but being spaced apart a distance such as to guide the sides of the drawer and positioned at such height as to permit said drawer flanges to slide thereon, a pair of tie bars each connecting and spacing apart the adjacent lower ends of the sides of said frame, a bumper pad disposed on the lower surface of the bottom wall of said drawer near the rearward edge thereof, and a stop element projecting inwardly from said bottom member a distance such as to engage said bumper pad when said drawer is opened.

2. A storage facility comprising a unit capable of being assembled with units in stacks or rows and having a sliding drawer with front, rear and bottom walls and two side walls, each side wall having near its upper edge an outwardly projecting, downwardly facing, horizontal integral flange extending along the side wall, a stationary metal frame element at the rear of the drawer, a stationary metal frame element at the front of the drawer and having top, bottom and side members defining a rectangular opening for permitting sliding movement of the drawer within the .frame, a pair of side bars connecting said frames and extending from front to rear between said frames, intermediate parts of said bars being spaced apart a distance such as to guide the sides of said drawer and positioned at such height as to permit said drawer flanges to slide thereon, means disposed on each side wall of said drawer at such a height as to engage the lower edge of the associated side bar so as to thereby prevent the front end of the drawer fro-m tipping down when the drawer is opened, and a pair of tie bars each connecting and spacing apart the adjacent lower ends of the sides of said frame, the front wall of said drawer having integral outwardly extending marginal flanges for concealing said front frame when the drawer is closed.

3. A storage facility comprising a unit capable of being assembled with like units in stacks or rows, said unit including a sliding drawer with front, rear and bottom walls and two side walls, each side wall having near its upper edge an outwardly projecting, downwardly facing, horizontal flange extending along the side wall, a stationary metal frame element at the rear of the drawer, a stationary metal frame element at the front of the drawer and having top, bottom and side members defining an opening for permitting sliding movement of the drawer within the frame, a pair of side bars connecting adjacent upper portions of the sides of said frames, intermediate parts of said bars being spaced apart a distance such as to guide the sides of the drawer and positioned at such a height as to permit said drawer flanges to slide thereon, and a pair of tie bars each connecting and spacing apart the adjacent lower portions of the sides of said frame.

4. A storage facility comprising a unit capable of being assembled with like units in stacks or rows, said unit including a sliding drawer with front, rear and bottom walls and two side walls, each side wall having near its upper edge an outwardly projecting, downwardly facing horizontal integral flange extending along the side wall, a stationary metal frame element at the rear of the drawer, a stationary metal frame element at the front of the drawer, said front and rear elements being substantially of the same size and having top, bottom and side members, said front element defining a rectangular opening for permitting sliding movement of the drawer within the frame, a pair of side bars connecting the adjacent upper ends of the side members of said frame elements and extending from front to rear between said frame elements, intermediate parts of said side bars being spaced apart a distance such as to guide the sides of said drawer and positioned at such height as to permit said drawer flanges to slide thereon, and a pair of tie bars each connecting and spacing apart the adjacent lower ends of the side members of said frame elements, said top and bottom members of both the front and rear frame elements having corresponding apertures, said side members of both the front and rear frame elements having corresponding apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,252,816 Kuehl Jan. 8, 1918 1,267,524 Ewart May 28, 1918 1,271,083 Schatfert July 2, 1918 1,329,616 Larson Feb. 3, 1920 1,390,377 Ohnstrand Sept. 13, 1921 1,726,121 Polkosnik Aug. 27, 1929 2,194,177 Rundell Mar. 19, 1940 2,671,004 Chadwick et a1. Mar. 2, 1954 

